COVER STORY EOS

PENNINE CLOSE A GROUNDBREAKING SOCIAL HOUSING SCHEME

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WELL-KNOWN FOR DEVELOPING LASTING PARTNERSHIPS, EOS HAS ONCE AGAIN COLLABORATED WITH OSCO HOMES TO PROVIDE AN INNOVATIVE STEEL FRAMING SOLUTION FOR A NEW DEVELOPMENT IN ST HELENS FOR NORTH WEST HOUSING GROUP, TORUS.

This is truly an inspirational enterprise which not only provides much needed affordable homes but also creates opportunities for those distant from the labour market to gain training, skills and sustained employment. More than three years ago EOS supported OSCO Homes in a ground-breaking development at The Lockies where offsite construction was used as the medium to provide ex-prisoners from HM Prison Hindley, Greater Manchester, many with no construction knowledge – with the skills and training needed to gain employment. OSCO supported each individual in finding work on release and the research showed the re-offending rate dropped dramatically to around 10% of the national average.

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The OSCO skills journey model is now being rolled out across many projects including Pennine Close in St Helens. The development consists of 10 houses built for affordable rent and is part of a significant investment in the area as the housing group Torus, looks to build 5,300 houses in its heartlands by 2024. THE OPTIMUM SOLUTION Improving levels of occupant safety together with increasing the quality and energy performance of the build was a key priority for Torus Developments. Making use of the latest products, technical know-how and manufacturing excellence – fast-track steel framing systems provided the solution.

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Providing crucial time and cost benefits – an offsite system approach ensures the outcome is more predictable and repeatable, eradicating the risk of on-site variability. On this occasion the custom-made range of walling and flooring systems for the Pennine Close development were designed and manufactured to exacting tolerances in the EOS factory complete with M&E service channels and openings, then supplied as a complete kit of parts to the OSCO Homes factory. There an expert team led a group of low and multi-skilled operatives to assemble the panels including Weather Defence external sheathing and Rock Mineral Wool insulation with only the Siniat